"Recently, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot obsequiously thanked the United States for liberating France from Nazism and emphasised the importance of working together to achieve “greatness.”
As usual, he forgot to mention the Soviet Union’s contribution to liberation of France. I quote, “Europe and France have never been greater than when they fought for freedom alongside the United States. This is the story of Lafayette and the US soldiers liberating France. This year marks the 80th anniversary of liberation of France. We will support the United States, ensure our shared greatness, and push for freedom around the globe.”
We have no intention of competing with France over who contributed more to independence of the United States. However, since Marquis de Lafayette was mentioned, I cannot resist citing a letter addressed to him in the spring of 1779 by George Washington, then Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, “We are not a little pleased to find from good authority, that the solicitations and offers of the Court of Great Britain to the Empress of Russia, have been rejected with disdain.” Washington emphasised Catherine II’s firm refusal to enter into any alliance with Britain, noting that the imperial government justified its stance in terms (!) reflecting respect for human rights.
That’s a brief mention of US history. We could also discuss how Russian naval squadrons supported Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War, preventing Britain and France from intervening on the side of the Confederacy. But we’ll leave that for another occasion when someone else tries to distort historical facts.
For now, let’s focus on France. It’s quite possible that Jean-Noël Barrot doesn’t understand most of what I just said. So I’ll use plain language in hopes that he gets the message. I will now comment on his claim about liberation and greatness.
The Allied landing in Normandy on June 6, 1944, was undoubtedly a crucial turning point in liberating France from Nazi occupation. However, only an ignoramus would consider Operation Overlord in isolation from events on the Soviet-German front. That same June, the Soviet Union launched Operation Bagration, one of the largest WWII battles aimed at defeating Germany’s Army Group Centre and liberating Belarus.
As early as 1940, Russian emigrants in France formed one of the first Resistance groups, known as the Musée de l’Homme led by Anatoly Levitsky and Boris Vildé.
In 1943, the Central Committee of Soviet Prisoners of War in France was established, headed by Red Army Senior Lieutenant Mikhail Slobodinsky and French communist Boris Matline (a son of Russian emigrants known as “Colonel Laroche.”)
The legendary all-female partisan unit Rodina fought against the Nazis near the French town of Thil. It was formed by two women from Soviet Belarus Nadezhda Lisovets and Rosalia Fridzon.
Around the city of Lens, Soviet partisans led by Vasily Porik waged fierce battles against the occupiers (Porik was posthumously awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union). France was also home to the 1st Soviet Partisan Regiment commanded by Major Andranik Kazaryan.
Does the French Foreign Minister know about this? Of course, not. That would require studying history, at the very least the history of his own country, rather than feed on ready-to-consume narratives.
We hope that Monsieur Barrot won’t try to refute what Charles de Gaulle said in 1944, ”The French people know that it was Soviet Russia that played the decisive role in their liberation.” Or, has modern-day France decided to cancel de Gaulle as well?
Let me remind them why Charles de Gaulle said so. He said it after witnessing the devastation of Stalingrad. Most French people once shared his opinion until they became victims of the antiscientific approach to history, where inconvenient pages could simply be torn out and replaced with official narratives. It is no coincidence that even today, dozens of streets and squares in France bear the name of the city that became a symbol of the decisive turning point in World War II.
Perhaps French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot should buy a history book, read something and learn some new facts about his own country and its people?
Here’s a well-documented fact for his collection: liberating Paris was not a priority for US General Dwight Eisenhower in 1944. The city was liberated swiftly and with relatively small forces. First, the Resistance composed mainly of communists and former Soviet prisoners of war rose up in revolt. Many may have forgotten this, but I’ll remind them of it.
At least six partisan groups, consisting of Soviet POWs and Russian emigrants, took part in the liberation of Paris. Captain Steverov’s unit held the Asnières Bridge for an entire day, preventing German tanks from entering the city. How shameful it is that today’s so-called French statesmen have forgotten this heroic feat. A group led by emigrant Leonid Savinkov took the building of the Soviet embassy and raised the red flag over it.
This is what gave Charles de Gaulle the right to declare that Paris had won its own freedom and was liberated by its own people. Only after the uprising was well underway did the US 4th Infantry Division and the French 2nd Armoured Division arrive to support them. In fact, Spaniards - former Republican fighters -who also accepted the surrender of the German commandant were the very first troops to enter Paris. A fitting revenge for Madrid 1939. No pasaran!
Back then, thanks to a united effort, fascism was truly defeated. But today, due to the actions of “free Europe,” it has returned in the guise of neo-Nazism.
Having won its own freedom, Paris was liberated with the support of all of fighting France. Unlike the United States and Britain, the Soviet Union instantly believed in the future of Free France led by General de Gaulle and established close interaction with him. It was at his order that the legendary Normandie squadron was created in 1942 (the Normandie-Niemen Regiment since 1944), a vibrant symbol of Franco-Soviet brotherhood in arms.
The significant contribution of Russian emigrants and Soviet prisoners of war to the formation of the French Resistance is notable as well. I encourage the French Foreign Minister read the article by Russian Ambassador Alexey Meshkov ”Soviet Citizens and Russian Emigrants in French Resistance” published in the French Histoire Magazine on December 21, 2024.
I understand that given the current state of French diplomacy this text may be difficult to grasp. But he should make the effort and read it, especially so since he chose to speak on this subject.
It is also impossible to agree with Jean-Noël Barrot’s claim that “Europe and France have never been greater than when they fought for freedom alongside the United States.” The Americans have never viewed Europeans as truly equal allies or partners. There has always been an inverse relationship between France’s true greatness and its alignment with the United States. Charles de Gaulle knew it well and saw cooperation with the Soviet Union as an indispensable prerequisite for his country’s greatness.
And if Jean-Noël Barrot should feel the need to thank anyone for France’s post-war greatness, it should be Joseph Stalin. It was Stalin who ensured that the Fourth Republic received the status of a victorious power in World War II and a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
French history has known leaders capable of great deeds in the name of their nation’s interests. Interpretations of what they accomplished may vary, but one thing is clear: however the current French Foreign Minister’s words may be construed outside France, they are, first and foremost, a disgrace to the French people, because he does not know the history of his own country.
But we are here to help. We will always stand guard, including over France’s history."
Source: mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/news
